Extend Machine and Lubricant Life
   Through Contamination Control
November 17, 2005

How Long Should a Filter Cart be Used?

"We frequently use filter carts as a part of our contamination control program. Do you have any information about how long we should filter the oil using this type of filtration?"

Off-line filtration is a powerful asset to the lube technician. Without interfering with the operation of the equipment, one can keep the oil clean with full-time off-line filtration, or periodically clean the oil with a portable rig, such as a filter cart.

When using a filter cart, the oil is taken from a dirty sump, filtered and returned to the dirty sump. So the cleanliness of the filtered oil is diluted, so to speak, by the dirty oil residing in the tank. To overcome the dilution effect, the tank volume must pass through the filter approximately seven times to achieve the equivalent of single-pass filtration (where the oil is pumped from one container to another through a filter). For example, if you have a 30-gallon tank and a filter cart that pumps at five gpm, you need to run the cart for 42 minutes to equal single-pass filtration (30 gallons X 7, divided by 5 gpm). If you want to achieve two-pass filtration, you must engage the off-line filter for 82 minutes, or about 1.5 hours.

Use this rule of thumb to manage scheduling activities where portable filtration is rotated from machine to machine within the plant. More about filter carts.

Advice for Flushing Large Circulating Systems

"What is the best material to use when flushing out a large circulating system prior to a new fill?"

The ideal answer is to use the same type of product that you will use as a final lubricant. Short of that, the next choice would be a lighter viscosity product of the same brand name category. If neither option is viable, then contact the manufacturer of the product for direction on the use of a flushing oil that is compatible with the final product choice.

It is important to test the lubricant after the final fill is completed and the oil has circulated thoroughly (seven times through the pump for a circulation system) to confirm that the viscosity is in the correct range. Viscosities can be adjusted by blending heavier components to bring up a low viscosity or vice-versa.

Read more about flushing: When to Perform a Flush, Navigating the Maze of Flushing Tactics, Flushing Strategy Rationalization, Flushing and the Voice Within Your Oil


Think Prevention When It Comes to Contamination

"We are in the process of implementing a contamination control program in our plant. We want to work smart and get the most bang for our limited budget. Any ideas?"

One of the smartest things you can do is to keep contaminant particles from entering your lubricants so that you don't have to remove them. The cost of excluding a gram of dirt is probably only 10% of what it will cost you once it gets into your oil. Some preventable ways that contaminants get into your oil include:

  • new oil
  • ventilation and breathers
  • seals
  • wear generation
  • service and manufacturing debris
  • filter dumping
  • wash-down sprays and solvents

Resources

 


See What's In Your Oil
Microscopic photos of your oil sample on every oil analysis report make interpretation quick and easy. Ask about our one-micron bypass filters.

 


INTERNORMEN´s UMFC
The new standard for modern fluid management in secondary flow filtration. Always equipped with CCM 01-Set and WSTM 01-Set
e-mail

 


On-site high-speed purification and drying of contaminated lube systems.
Flow rates up to 5,000 gallons/hr. No downtime – we clean while you run!

Training Calendar

NOVEMBER 2005

Machinery Lubrication I
21-22 Santiago, Chile
23-25 São Paulo, Brazil

Machinery Lubrication II
17-18 Gdansk, Poland
17-18 Midrand, South Africa
23-24 Buenos Aires, Argentina
23-24 Santiago, Chile

Oil Analysis I
21-22 Madrid, Spain

Oil Analysis II
23-24 Madrid, Spain

DECEMBER 2005

Oil Analysis I
5-8 Windhoek, Namibia
6-8 Nashville, TN

Machinery Lubrication – The Complete Course
14-16 Bangkok, Thailand

JANUARY 2006

Contamination Control Basics
31 Midrand, South Africa

Effective Contamination Control
24-26 Cleveland, OH

Effective Mobile Equipment Lubrication
25-27 Midrand, South Africa

Machinery Lubrication I
17-18 Hengelo, Netherlands

Machinery Lubrication II
26-27 Hengelo, Netherlands

Oil Analysis I
17-19 Point Lisas, Trinidad
24-26 Monterrey, N.L., México
24-26 Cleveland, OH

Filtration Tips is published twice a month by:
Noria Corporation, 1328 E. 43rd Court, Tulsa, OK 74105 USA. (918) 749-1400

Because results will vary widely based on a number of factors, Noria Corporation cannot warrant the results of any information within this e-mail.

© 2005 Noria Corporation

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